Hendricks, Rolling Meadows hang on
Once Rolling Meadows senior Matt Hendricks got the lead he wasn’t going to let it go in Monday’s first-place Mid-Suburban East showdown with visiting Elk Grove.
A 5-run fourth inning put the Mustangs (13-8, 5-2) ahead and Hendricks retired the last 10 hitters he faced as they took sole possession of first place in the East with a 6-5 victory. Hendricks (3-3) had only 1 strikeout but didn’t walk anyone.
Luc Dimaso’s triple started a 4-run second for Elk Grove (12-8, 4-3) as Patrick O’Malley (2-for-3) and Johnny Assimakopoulos had RBI singles and Cody Gustafson had an RBI triple. Hendricks (2-for-3) had an RBI single in the third but the Grenadiers got the run back in the fourth.
Then Meadows broke through in the fourth against Jack Czeszewski, who had 8 strikeouts in 5 innings. Matt Dennis and Dan Hendricks doubled to score a run and Mike Weingart’s bunt single loaded the bases for a run to score on a catcher’s interference call and they tying runs scoring on an error. A Mickey Wazorick sacrifice and an intentional walk to Matt Hendricks set up Mike Dolan’s run-scoring groundout.
Fremd 8, Schaumburg 5: The fifth inning was big for MSL West co-leader Fremd (12-8, 5-2) as it scored all of its runs and it was bad for Schaumburg (11-10, 3-4) as it committed 4 of its 5 errors. Jack Andersen went 6 innings and gave up 3 earned runs with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks for the victory.
A sacrifice fly by Matt Brancato and a 2-run single by Thomas Byrne (2-for-3) gave Schaumburg a 2-0 second-inning lead. But an error opened the door for Fremd’s outburst as Jon Escobar had an RBI double, Matt Isola had a 2-run single, Danny Haduch had a sacrifice fly and Matt Wisniewski’s second hit of the inning drove in 2 runs.
Jordan Grubb had an RBI double and Brancato had another sacrifice fly in the Saxons’ seventh.
Prospect 5, Buffalo Grove 2: Jack Landwehr (4-2) threw a 5-hitter with 12 strikeouts and 1 walk and went 2-for-3 with a double for Prospect (7-13, 4-3) in the MSL East home win. Only one run was earned against Landwehr, whose single-game high for strikeouts is 15 twice.
Dan Kavanaugh went 2-for-4 with a double and 2 RBI and Brad Gerdes went 2-for-4 for the Knights. Jake Fanella doubled for BG (8-13, 3-4).
Conant 7, Palatine 5: Conant (8-8, 4-3) scored 6 runs in the first by taking advantage of half of the 8 errors by host Palatine (8-15, 4-3) in the MSL West. Nick Blaha went the distance with 10 strikeouts and 1 walk for the victory while loser Eric Scheuermann didn’t allow an earned run and had 10 strikeouts and 1 walk in 6 innings.
Kerry Hickerson (2-for-4), Anthony Forte (2-for-4) and Dan Behof had RBI singles and Bill Grzelek had an RBI double in the first in Conant’s fourth straight win. Scheuermann and Mike Czarnik hit solo homers, Scott Schneberger went 3-for-4 and Kurt Becker went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI for the Pirates.
Barrington 5, Hoffman Estates 2: Macray Poidomani had 3 hits and Frank Waliczek threw a 3-hitter with 6 strikeouts and no walks for MSL West co-leader Barrington (15-6, 5-2). Justin Gitelis, Aaron Foley and Ryan Lidge had 2 hits apiece for the Broncos, who went ahead with 3 two-out runs in the sixth.
Ethan Bloom hit a 2-run homer in the first for Hoffman (8-12, 2-5).
Hersey 5, Wheeling 1: Mike Danielak threw a 2-hitter with 8 strikeouts and no walks and didn’t allow an earned run for Hersey (14-4, 4-3) in the MSL East. James Ioratti had an RBI double and an Rbi single, Trevor Haas went 2-for-3 and Josh Koutnik had a sacrifice fly.
Kalvin Thong singled in the first and broke up the shutout in the sixth with an RBI groundout for Wheeling (1-19, 0-7).
Christian Liberty 11, Morgan Park Academy 4: David Cabrera got the victory and doubled as Christian Liberty had a 13-3 hit advantage. David Colbert, Shawn Anderson and Keegan Nichols also doubled for the Crusaders.